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THE  LIBRARY 

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THE  UNIVERSITY 

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BUSINESS  LETTERS 

FIKST   SERIES 


IN  THE  SIMPLE 

REPORTING   STYLE 

OF 

GRAHAM'S 
STANDARD  PHONOGRAPHY 


»  »  •  • 


NEW  YORK 
ANDREW  J.  GRAHAM  &  CO, 
3135  Broadway 


Coyyrlght,  1899,  by  Andrew  J.  Graham  &  Co. 


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BUSINESS  LETTERS. 


Mr.  L.  B.  Hotchkiss,  Sitpt.^  Sioux  City,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  the  17th,  I  would  say, 
If  you  are  keeping  switch  engineers  on  their  engines  at  Yankton 
and  Sioux  Falls,  or  anywhere  else,  in  order  to  comply  with  my 
instructions  of  Nov.  28th,  stop  it. 

The  order  is  intended  to  apply  to  trains  on  the  road,  so  that 
somebody  will  be  with  the  trains  all  the  time,  and  that  the  men 
on  the  train,  including  the  engine  and  train  crew,  will  not  all 
side  track  them  and  leave  them  in  order  to  go  to  saloons,  lunch 
counters,  hotels,  or  to  hunt  prairie  chickens,  etc.  It  does  not 
apply  to  yard  e«gines. 

You  will  have  to  allow  the  switch  engineers  their  time,  if  you 
have  held  them  in  service  during  the  noon  hour.     [137  words.] 

Yours  truly, 

F.  E.  Smith,  Genl.  Supt. 


Mr.  J.  II.  Anderson,  General  Freight  Agent,  Chicago. 

DkarSir: — I  enclose  statement  of  interchange  business  with 
connecting  lines  as  shown  by  our  junction  reports,  Forms  37  and 
38,  December,  1894. 

The  87  cars  received  from  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  at  Davis  Junction 
consisted  of  coal  from  mines  on  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  destined  to  points 
on  our  line.  The  13  cars  delivered  to  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  at  Davis 
Junction  consisted  mostly  of  zinc  ore  from  Mineral  Point,  con- 
signed to  Peru,  111.,  on  the  "Q."  There  were  also  several  cars 
of  hard  coal  shipped  from  Milwaukee  to  C.  B.  &  Q.  points.  [110 
words.]  Yours  truly, 

S   A.  JoH.NsON,  A.  G.  F.  A. 


50 


BUSINESS  LETTERS. 


-3- 


Mr  J.  B.  Miles,  Asst,  Commissary,  New  Orleans. 

Dear  Sir  : — Referring  to  your  letter  of  the  25th  inst.,  I  would 
say,  if  you  can  purchase  at  16  cents  per  pound,  boiled  hams, 
trimmed,  suitable  for  use  on  buffet  cars,  you  should  do  so.  This 
rate  is  lower  than  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  heretofore  at  any 
station.  You  should  watch  the  quality  closely,  for  the  price 
specified  is  very  low  for  the  quality  we  require. 

Regarding  the  prices  for  the  other  meats,  I  do  not  understand 
why  they  are  submitted,  unless  you  are  preparing  for  the  Mardi 
Gras.     [too  words.] 

Yours  truly, 

S.  H.  Hudson,  Commissary. 

Mr.  F.  E.  Meyer,  Dist.  Commissary,  Philadelphia. 

Dear  Sir  : — Gorden  &  Dilvvorth  have  put  up  a  one-order  plum 
pudding  with  sauce. 

In  my  estimation  it  is  far  superior  to  the  American  brand,  and 
if  the  price  is  more  reasonable  than  we  are  paying  for  the 
American,  we  will  try  the  Gorden  &  Dilworth. 

Please  advise  me  what  quantity  would  be  required  to  furnish 
your   cars  for,  say,  a    month.     I  mean,   of  course,  orily  on  the 
lines  you  are  carrying  it.     Also  state  price  you  paid  last  for  the 
pudding  including  the  sauce.     [93  words.] 
Yours  truly, 

S.  H.  HunsoN,  Ccjmmissary. 


Mr.  M,  J.  Glazier,  Agent,    Western  avenue,  Chica(;o. 

Dear  Sir: — We  have  not  received  a  report  of  the  distribution 
of  tonnage  from  various  eastern  territories,  sent  via  our  line 
through  Chicago  since  the  5th  inst. 

In  canvassing  the  matter  with  you  it  was  understood  that  three 
days  was  considered  the  outside  limit  necessary  to  have  the  re- 
port prepared.     The  8th,  therefore,  is  due  here  to-day. 

It  appears  very  much  as  if  the  work  were  not  receiving  proper 
attention,  and  I  wish  you  would  take  the  necessary  steps  at  once 


B  L/S/NESS  LE  TTERS.  5 1 

to  have  the  report  reach  this  office  in  accordance  with   our    talk 
about  the  matter.     [105  words.] 

Yours  truly, 

S.  A.  JoH.NSON,  A.  G.  F.  A. 

Dear  Sir: — We  have  your  letter  of  the  2d  inst.  in  reference  to 
dashpot  plunger,  and  will  get  this  off  very  promptly.  Please 
return  to  us,  by  freight,  the  plunger  shipped  you  in  September. 

We  note  your  instructions  to  send  you,  as  called  for  by  your 
order  of  July  25th,  two  inlet  valves  instead  of  one  outlet  valve. 
We  will  do  all  we  can  to  get  this  material  off  within  the  next 
week.     [74  words.] 

Very  truly  yours. 

Gentlemen  : — Referring  to  the  lot  of  bar  ends,  mentioned  in 
your  favor  of  recent  date,  from  8  inches  to  4  feet  long  by  ^  to 
\%  inches  thick,  we  would  ask  you  to  advise  us  kindly  a  little 
more  definitely  what  this  stock  consists  of.  Are  they  sheet  and 
tin  bar  ends  of  a  uniform  width,  or  ordinary  merchant  bar  ends? 
If  it  is  flat  stock  from  5X  to  9/^  inches  wide,  we  might  be  able 
to  use  a  part  of  it ;  but  if  it  is  ordinary  bar  ends,  of  rounds, 
squares,  etc.,  we  should  not  be  able  to  use  it.  [104  words.] 
Very  truly  yours, 


Gentlemen  : — We  are  now  ready  for  the  balance  of  the  No.  i 
Railroad  wrought  scrap.  The  last  lot  we  had  ixom  you  was  not 
just  what  it  should  have  been,  as  it  contained  a  large  number  of 
short  pieces  of  rods  which  were  entirely  unfit  for  bundling  pur- 
poses. 

What  we  desire  is  scrap  which  is  suitable  for  bundling.  This 
short  scrap,  as  you  are  aware,  can  be  procured  in  almost  any 
quantity,  at  from  two  to  three  dollars  per  ton  under  the  price  we 
are  paying  you  for  this  No.  i.  We  trust,  therefore,  that  you  will 
look  after  the  quality  of  this  lot  very  carefully.  [106  words.] 
Yours  truly, 

Shawnee  Furnace  Co. 


52  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 


Gentlemen  : — Yours  of  the  28th  ult.  was  received  this  morn- 
ing. Regarding  your  telephone  inquiry  of  the  9th,  will  say  that 
our  Mr.  Johnson  was  out  of  town,  by  reason  of  which  no  definite 
information  could  be  furnished  you  from  this  office. 

We  will  now  say  that  we  are  doing  practically  nothing,  al- 
though we  have  been  running  a  little  at  times,  and  we  are  not  in 
need  of  anything  in  the  way  of  bars.  Although  we  have  orders 
booked  for  quite  considerable  amounts,  we  find  that  customers 
are  exceedingly  slow  in  specifying;  and,  moreover,  we  do  not 
think  it  is  best  to  push  customers  at  such  a  time  as  this  if  they 
are  not  really  needing  the  material. 

We  will  see  that  you  are  advised  at  least  a   week   before   we 
shall  be  in  want  of  any  more  steel.     [139  words.] 
Yours  truly, 

Lawrence  Machine  Works. 


Dear  Sir: — We  have  your  favor  of  the  28th  ultimo,  and  in 
^eply  we  beg  to  quote  you  for  seven  or  eight  kegs  of  square-head 
machine  to'.ts,  with  cold  punched  C.  &  J.  octagon  nuts,  55  and 
25^  off  list,  f.  o.  b.  Pittsburg.  If  you  can  give  us  prompt  cash 
for  these  we  will  allow  you  5$?  off;  but  if,  as  you  intimate,  you 
will  be  obliged  to  give  us  paper  at  four  months,  there  will  of 
course  be  no  discount,  and  we  shall  be  obliged  to  ask  you  to  add 
interest  at  the  rate  of  b%  per  annum  for  three  months  of  the  lime 
taken. 

We  hope  you  can  favor  us  with  your  order.     [122  words.] 
Very  truly  yours, 


Gentlemen  : — We  beg  to  solicit  your  inquiries  for  prices  on 
Alleghany  foundry  pig  iron,  made  by  Alleghany  Iron  Co.,  Iron 
Gate,  Va. 

This  furnace  is  situated  almost  alongside  the  well-known  Low 
Moor,  Longdale,  and  Princess  furnaces,  and  will  use  the  same 
high-ciass  ores  that  they   u=e,   carefully  selected  and  washed 


B  U  SI  NESS  LE  T  TERS.  53 

with  the  celebrated  New  River,  W.  Va.,  coice  a-s  fuel.  We  are 
authorized  by  the  company  to  guarantee  that  the  metal  will  not 
be  surpassed  by  any  coke  iron  made  in  Virginia.  It  will  be 
found  particularly  valuable  for  high-class  machinery  castings, 
pulleys,  cylinders,  steam  pumps,  etc.,  etc.,  and  would  be  an 
ideal  mixture  with  standard  Tennessee  and  Alabama  brands. 

We  should  like  very  much  to  send  you  a  sample  car,  and  hope 
to  be  favored  with  your  inquiries.     [132  words.] 
Yours  truly, 


Dear  Sir: — I  return  herewith  correction  notice  on  shipment  of 
stone  consigned  to  John  Fiske,  as  per  way-bill  No.  2345  from 
Jersey  Point,  July  22d,  reducing  the  freight  charges  from  $597.96 
to  $298.98. 

Also  enclosed  please  find  draft  No.  1468  in  your  favor  for 
$298.98,  covering  the  amount  to  be  refunded,  provided  the  con- 
signee has  paid  the  original  amount  of  freight  charges,  in  which 
case  you  will  please  send  his  receipt  to  this  office  for  the  refund. 

If  settlement  of  the  bill  has  not  been  made,  the  draft  should 
be  remitted  to  the  Treasurer  for  your  account.  The  draft,  to- 
gether with  the  same  amount  to  be  collected  from  the  consignee, 
will  cover  the  original  amount  of  charges  on  the  shipment. 
[145  words.]  Yours  truly. 


Dear  Sir  ; — With  reference  to  the  enclosed  letters  returned  for 
postage,  the  General  Superintendent's  circular  of  July  4th,  1.894, 
provides  as  follows  : 

"  Fifth. — Letters  or  packets  containing  manifests,  bills  of 
lading,  freight  tariffs  and  passenger  rate  sheets,  loss  and  damage 
claims,  tracers  and  junction  car  reports,  exchanged  between 
agents  of  the  system  and  agents  of  other  roads  over  which  the 
ariffs  to  which  they  relate  pass,  may  be  carried." 

The  contents  of  these  envelopes  are  manifests  for  the  C.  &  A. 
R.  R.,  and  I  think  they  come  under  this  provision  of  Mr.  Wes- 


54  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

ton's  circular.    "If  not,  we  should   like  to    know  where  to  dr.r.Y 
the  line,    [no  words.] 

Yours  truly, 

Dear  Sir: — Again  referring  to  the  attached  correspondence, 
the  point  I  wish  to  make  is  that  if  the  Saginaw  River  R.  R. 
issues  general  instructions,  printed  or  otherwise,  that  affect  the 
movement  of  cars  or  the  billing  thereof  to  and  from  points  on 
the  Michigan  Central  R.  R.,  the  proper  officials  of  this  road 
should  be  given  that  notice. 

Certainly  you  in  the  first  instance  must  have  had  some  authority 
for  asking  us  to  instruct  our  agents  in  a  general  way  what  to  do. 
What  we  want  is  a  copy  of  that  authority.  In  other  words,  we 
want  the  General  Freight  Department  to  notify  us  of  everything 
pertaining  to  its  instructions  governing  shipments  to  and  from 
this  road.  Yours  truly. 

Dear  Sir: — I  enclose  herewith  original  and  card  way-bill  for 
shipment  of  empty  beer  barrels,  erroneously  billed  from  your 
station  to  Milwaukee,  Sept.  I2th. 

Please  issue  a  correction,  making  way-bill  void,  and  issue  a 
new  one  to  Smithdale,  in  accordance  with  instructions  of  sheet 
No.  6.  Send  without  delay  the  new  way-bill  to  agent  at  Smith- 
dale. 

Please  advise  when  done,  and  also  state  under  whose  instruc- 
tions you  way-billed  the  shipment  to  Milwaukee. 

Yours  truly. 


Gentlemen: — You  will  perhaps  remember  that  I  purchased  a 
supply  of  the  Delaware  chairs  for  our  college  at  St.  Louis  one 
year  ago. 

We  are  about  to  open  an  academy  in  Ohio,  and  I  write  to 
inquire  if  you  will  furnish  the  chairs  at  the  same  rate  again. 
You  delivered  those  for  $14.00  per  dozen.     As  our  new  academy 


BUSIiVESS  LETTERS.  55 

is  so  near  the   factory,    we    should    be    entitled,   I  think,   to  the 
difference  in  freight. 

The  number  needed  is  twenty  dozen. 

Please  let  me  hear  from  you  at  once,  addressing  me  here. 
Yours  very  truly, 

Dear  Sir: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  the  14th  inst.,  I  will  say 
that  I  will  inform  you  more  definitely  concerning  the  work  just 
as  soon  as  I  am  able  to  do  so.  It  may  be  that  the  question  can- 
not be  fully  settled  before  the  opening  of  the  next  term,  but  I 
will  write  you  before  that  time,  if  there  is  any  change  in  the 
circumstances. 

I  shall  be  glad  to  welcome  you  very  heartily  to  our  work,  and 
hope  the  arrangement  may  prove  mutually  profitable. 

1  shall  be  here  for  the  remainder  of  this  month,  and  after  that 
my  address  will  be  as  usual. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Dear  Madam: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  the  12th  inst.,  duly 
received,  I  will  say  that  the  Academy  at  Farmington  will  open 
Sept.  13th. 

Of  course  I  have  no  authority  to  fix  the  salaries,  but  judging 
from  the  amount  paid  elsewhere,  I  should  think  it  would  be  not 
less  than  $9  nor  more  than  $10  per  week. 

The  assignment  of  work  will  necessarily  depend  somewhat 
upon  the  make-up  of  the  faculty.  It  would  be  very  proper  for 
you  to  correspond  with  Prof.  White,  expressing  your  choice  in 
the  matter,  as  it  will  be  left  largely  with  him  to  arrange  the 
work. 

You  can  secure  a  calendar  as  suggested  in  the  Herald  of  last 
week;  they  were  not  ready  when  I  left ;  so  I  have  no  copy  with 
me.  • 

I  shall  be  here  the  remainder  of  the  month,  if  you  desire  to 
make  any  further  inquiry. 

Yours  very  truly. 


56  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

ig 

Mr.  C.    W.  Clark,  Providence.  R   I. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  am  glad  to  hear  you  are  so  well  situated.  With 
prospects  so  encouraging,  I  think  it  would  be  a  mistake  to  leave 
your  present  situation,  although  I  am  very  sorry  not  to  have 
your  assistance  here. 

We  have  a  very  good  staff  selected.  I  think  I  shall  fill  the 
place  I  held  for  you  with  a  very  good  man,  with  whom  I  have 
had  conversation  to-day.  He  has  done  this  work  for  Chicago, 
Philadelphia,  and  other  papers,  and  I  think  will  do  very  well. 

I  wish  you  would  recommend  a  good  man  in  your  city  to 
,  cover  the  field  for  us.  Of  course  we  prefer  a  man  employed  on 
a  morning  paper,  and  he  must  be  a  hustler  in  order  to  fill  the  bill. 
Possibly  your  own  duties  would  enable  you  to  undertake  it  lor 
us.  If  not,  find  a  good  man  and  get  him  to  send  in  an  appli- 
cation stating  just  what  his  territory  is,  so  that  I  can  know 
exactly  what  his  field  will  be. 

Yours  very  truly, 


Mrs.  Caroline  H.  Marsh,  Oakville,  Ky. 

Dear  Madam: — Yours  of  Nov.  28th  was  received  some  time 
ago.  In  reply,  I  will  say  all  manuscripts  ought,  if  possible,  to  be 
typewritten  before  sent.  Where  this  is  impossible,  we  can  have  it 
done  at  five  cents  per  hundred  words.  I  should  be  glad  to  look 
over  any  of  your  manuscripts  at  the  usual  rates,  and  advise  you 
concerning  them.  It  is  impossible  to  give  an  opinion  until 
examination  has  been  made. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Sir  —The  Secretary  of  War  has  ordered  that  wherever  the 
interests  of  commerce  shall  so  demand,  the  submarine  mines 
now  placed  in  various  rivers  and  harbors  along  the  Atlantic, 
Gulf  and  Pacific  coasts  shall  be  removed  or  exploded.  You  are 
authorized  to  remove  or  explode,  as  in  your  judgment  will  be 
best  for  the  interests  of  the  service,  wherever  the  interests  of 
commerce  so  demand,  the  submarine  mines  in  the  various  rivers 
and  harbors  under  your  charge. 


BUSINESS  LETTERS. 


57 


It  is  intended  that  the  cables,  junction  boxes,  anchors,  case- 
mate appliances,  etc.,  shall  remain  in  position,  and  that  you  shall 
have  ready  at  each  harbor  the  necessary  mine  cases,  explosives, 
etc.,  so  that  mines  to  replace  those  removed  can  be  laid  im- 
mediately upon  receipt  of  teleerraphic  instructions.  In  removing 
the  mines  and  withdrawing  the  charges  the  utmost  care  must  be 
observed,  as  it  is  possible  that  the  friction  arising  from  unscrew- 
ing the  plug  might  cause  an  explosion. 

Should  you  deem  it  best,  in  the  interests  of  the  service,  to 
explode  the  mines  in  position,  you  are  authorized  to  do  so  when- 
ever you  have  on  hand  sufBcient  materials  to  replace  them.  In 
firing  the  mines  you  are  requested  to  personally  superintend  the 
operation  and  to  carefully  observe  the  result  in  each  case,  so 
that  the  information  gained,  which  will  be  of  great  value  in 
future  operations,  may  be  carefully  collated  in  the  interest  of 
the  science  of  war. 

You  will  please  notify  by  telegraph  the  Chief  of  Engineers  and 
the  Division  Engineer  of  your  division  whenever  you  are  ready 
to  explode  the  mines,  so  that  they  may  have  the  opportunity  of 
being  present  should  their  other  important  public  duties  permit. 

In  all  this  work  you  are  requested  to  use  the  utmost  care;  to 
see  that  the  harbor  or  river  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mines  you  pro- 
pose to  explode  is  absolutely  clear  of  vessels  when  the  explosion 
takes  place,  and  to  be  more  than  careful  on  every  possible  point 
in  case  it  is  your  intention  to  take  up  the  mines  and  remove  the 
charges. 

The  views  of  the  Torpedo  Board  in  reference  to  removing  the 
charges  have  been  requested,  and  will  be  communicated  to  you. 
Wherever  the  mines  now  placed  do  not  in  any  way  interfere 
with  commerce  they  need  not  be  removed. 

22 

Dear  Sir: — You  are  respectfully  advised  that  the  several  sub- 
scriptions of  $500  each  inclosed  by  you  under  date  of  June  21,  and 
accompanied  by  your  check  for  $80,000,  are  not  accepted,  but  are 
held  in  abeyance  for  your  further  advice.  It  was-  the  plain 
intent  of  Congress,  in  the  legislation  authorizing  the  issue  of  the 
bonds   now   in   question,  to  give  to  persons  of  moderate  means 


58  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

the  opportunity  to  invest  their  capital,  or  a  part  of  it,  in  the  secur- 
ities of  the  United  States,  the  evident  underlying  thought  being 
that  thus  our  frugal  citizens  would  come  into  a  closer  interest 
with  the  Government  of  which  they  form  a  part.  Whatever 
operates  to  defeat  this  thought  and  purpose  defeats  or  circum- 
vents the  intention  of  Congress  as  embodied  in  the  law.  The 
circumstances  surrounding  the  subscriptions  forwarded  by  you 
as  above  referred  to,  carry  a  presumption  that  they  are  not  the 
expressions  of  a  bona  fide  purpose  on  the  part  of  the  pro  forma 
subscribers  lo  become  investors  in  and  holders  of  the  bonds 
applied  for.s  On  the  contrary  the  presumption  arises  that  the 
subscriptions  are  really  in  the  interest  of  a  class  whose  claims 
are  distinctly  deferred  until  after  the  several  subscriptions  of 
individuals  shall  be  first  accepted  and  the  lowest  amounts  first 
allotted.  The  duty  of  this  Department  requires  a  reasonable, 
yet  diligent  guardianship  of  the  rights  of  those  in  whose 
behalf  the  law  has  special  regard.  The  Department,  therefore, 
deems  it  proper  to  require  from  you  a  clear  and  unequivocal 
statement  that  in  appearing  for  the  persons  whose  names  are 
signed  to  the  subscription  paper  you  are  bona  fide  acting  in  their 
behalf,  and  not  for  the  ulterior  advantage  of  yourself  or  any 
other  interest. 

In  the  absence  of  a  satisfactory  statement  from  you  to  this 
effect,  the  subscription  papers,  with  your  check,  will  be  returned 
to  you.  Respectfully  yours, 

Lyman  J.  Gage,  Secretary, 

23 

Dear  Sirs: — We  were  surprised  to  have  our  draft  of  August  4th 
for  your  invoice  of  June  2d,  30  days,  which  we  extended  30  days, 
returned  with  the  notation,  "  Not  correct."  Kindly  inform  us 
why  you  question  the  correctness  of  the  account.  We  suppose 
this  answer  was  given  to  the  bank  by  one  of  your  clerks  under  a 
misapprehension  regarding  the  arrangement  made  with  you  as 
to  the  extension  of  the  bill.  As  the  bill  is  now  due  we  return 
the  draft  to-day  and  trust  you  will  meet  the  same  on  presentation. 
Respectfully  yours, 

CoNKUNG  &  Wert. 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  59 

24 

Mr.  Jas.  A,  Mulcarry,  Agent,  Jiock/ord,  III. 

Dear  Sir  : — Reply  to  your  favor  of  the  27th  ult.  has  been 
unavoidably  delayed. 

I  now  beg  to  state  that  under  the  proceedings  of  the  Wisconsin 
Committee  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  : 

"That  on  Aug.  ist,  1895,  the  present  tan  bark  rate  from 
Wausau  and  Merrill,  Wis.,  to  Rockford,  III.,  be  advanced  to  12 
cents  per  hundred  pounds,  and  that  rate  to  Rockford  from  points 
on  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R'y,  from  wh'ch  points  rate  of  10  cents  now 
applies,  be  advanced  to  12  cents  on  same  date,  with  lumber  rate  as 
maximum." 

It  was  also 

"  Resolved,  That  rate  of  12  cents  per  hundred  pounds  be 
authorized  on  tan  bark,  carloads,  from  Wausau  and  Merrill  and 
C.  &  N.  W,  points  provided  for  in  above  resolution  to  Freeport, 
III.,  the  lumber  rate  to  be  maximum  ;  date  same  may  become 
effective  to  be  fixed  by  the  chairman  of  the  Western  Freight 
Association." 

I  presume  this  will  give  you  the  information  you  desire. 

Yours  truly, 

2S 

Mr.  C.  A.  Soule,  Asst.  Genl.  Supt^,  Milwaukee. 

Dear  Sir  : — Cars  in  transit  are  frequently  robbed  by  tramps 
and  thieves.  They  break  the  seals  and  enter  through  side  doors 
or  gain  entrance  through  end  doors. 

Instruct  train  men  to  watch  their  trains,  and  when  cars  are 
discovered  that  have  been  entered  and  robbed,  they  must  stop  at 
the  first  station  and  have  the  agent  reseal  the  cars,  and  report  by 
wire  to  H.  P.  Crowther  the  train  number,  car  number,  initials, 
and  number  of  seal  put  on,  also  give  same  information  to  the 
agent  upon  arrival  at  end  of  run 

Instruct  agents  at  division  stations  to  make  a  blind  tally  of 
the  contents  of  broken  packages,  recooper  them,  and  report  to 
Mr.  Crowther  by  wire,  giving  train  and  car  number,  initials 
consignee,  and  destination. 

Yours  truly, 

F.  E.  Smith,  Genl.  Siipt. 


60  BWSINESS  LETTERS. 


Mr.  D.   W.  Sheridan,  A.  G.  F.  A.,  Milwaukee,   Wisconsin. 

Dear  Sir  : — Referring  to  the  attached  would  say, -we  are  now 
allowing  passengers  to  ride  on  all  Southwestern  division  freight 
trains  that  can  carry  passengers  without  being  delayed  in  getting 
over  the  road. 

It  is  simply  impossible  to  give  special  permits  to  the  traveling 
representatives  of  any  firm.  If  we  give  them  to  one,  we  shall 
have  to  give  them  to  all.  It  seems  to  me  that  a  firm  like  Ingram 
&  Co.  are  taking  a  very  peculiar  position  when,  on  account  of 
our  declining  to  comply  with  the  unreasooable  request  of  one  of 
their  representatives,  they  permit  such  representative  to  work 
against  this  company.  It  seems  to  me  our  relations  with  them 
are  such  that  they  should  control  their  own  business,  and  not  let 
one  of  their  subordinates  do  it. 

So  far  as  the  Northwestern  road  is  concerned,  it  is  their  practice 
not  to  allow  their  freight  trains  to  carry  passengers  at  all,  ex- 
cept by  special  permit,  which,  I  understand,  they  are  very 
particular  about  granting. 

Our  practice  is  to  allow  some  freight  trains  on  every  division 
to  carry  passengers,  principally  as  a  matter  of  accommodation 
to  traveling  men. 

Yours  truly, 

Mr.  E.  R.  Banks,  A.  G.  F.  A.,  Chicago,  III. 

Dear  Sir  : — Herewith  is  all  correspondence  in  connection  with 
beer  shipped  from  Milwaukee  to  Carrollton  via  Aurora. 

As  stated  in  previous  letter,  the  time  made  via  Aurora  would 
enable  these  shipments  to  take  your  fast  train  out  of  that  point 
for  Carrollton,  but  our  present  arrangements  are  that  this  busi- 
ness shall  be  routed  via  Port  Byron.  Is  not  the  time  via  that 
route  satisfactory  ?  And  if  not,  can  it  be  made  as  good  as  via 
Aurora? 

You  understand  that  at  present  we  have  no  arrangements  for 
delivering  this  business  to  you  at  Aurora  or  divisions  applying 
on  same,  and  unless  there  is  some  serious  difficulty  in  the  way 


B  U  SI  NESS  LE  TTERS.  6 1 

of  making  proper  time  via  Port  Byron,  we  should  not  care  to 
make  the  change  at  present. 

Please  advise  me  as  to  this,  and  oblige. 

Yours  truly, 

S.  A.  Johnson,  A.  G.  F.  A. 

28 

Mr.  Jas.  Brink,  Supt.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Dear  Sir  : — We  have  agreed  to  allow  stoves  to  remain  in  five 
of  the  beer  cars  used  by  Milwaukee  brewers.  These  cars  are  to 
be  used  for  no  other  purpose  than  beer  shipments. 

Whenever  the  stoves  in  these  cars  are  used,  the  brewers  must 
send  a  man  in  charge.  The  agent  and  yardmasterat  Milwaukee 
must  be  instructed  not  to  permit  cars  with  fires  in  them  to  leave 
the  station,  unless  a  man  is  in  charge,  in  the  car,  where  he  must 
remain.  Mr.  Smith  should  advise  the  brewers  that  their  men 
must  put  out  the  fires  at  the  end  of  the  outward  run,  so  that  cars 
will  not  have  any  fires  in  them  on  the  return  trip. 

If  the  weather  is  mild  and  they  do  not  use  the  stoves,  it  will 
not  be  necessary  for  a  man  to  accompany  the  car. 

When  a  man  is  in  charge,  the  way  bill  should  have  a  notation 
to  "  pass  man  in  charge  to  look  after  fires."  They  will  them- 
selves arrange  for  the  return  trips.  This  arrangement  to  con- 
tinue only  during  the  balance  of  this  winter.  Then  the  stoves 
are  to  be  taken  out.  Cars  will  not  be  equipped  with  stoves  for 
next  winter's  business. 

Yours  truly, 

F.  E.  Smith,  Genl.  Superintendent. 

2g 

Mr.  J.  D.  Hagan,  General  Superintendent,  Chicago. 

Dp:ar  Sir: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  January  5th,  I  beg  tc> 
say  that  our  practice  is  not  to  use  the  cars  of  other  companies  in 
construction  service  ;  that  when  it  is  done  it  is  a  violation  of 
instructions.  It  is  not  our  practice  to  accept  nor  to  make  bills 
for  rental  of  cars  when  so  used,  and  until  it  is  a  uniform  prac- 
tice with  other  roads  we  shall  decline  to  do  so. 

In  this  connection  I  beg  to  say  that  the  rules  proposed  by  the 
American  Railway  Association  cover  such  cases,  and  impose  a 


62  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

penalty   for  such  misuse  of  cars,  and   that  I  am  in  favor  of  the 
general  adoption  of  the  rule. 

Yours  truly, 

John  Swan,   General  Superiniendrttt. 

Mr.  J.  G.  Goddard,  Supt.    Chicago. 

Dear  Sir  : — Returning  enclosed  in  relation  to  new  track  on 
west  side  of  our  main  track  at  Kankakee  north  of  the  stone 
bridge.  I  would  call  your  attention  to  letter  attached  from  our 
agent. 

My  idea  is  that  this  track  should  be  extended  north  to  a  point 
as  near  the  railroad  crossing  as  possible,  using  it  for  a  business 
track  in  place  of  the  present  one.  Then  extend  the  present 
business  track  north  as  far  as  possible  and  make  it  a  second  main 
track  in  Kankakee  yard.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  it  will  be 
necessary  to  cut  off  the  stock  chutes  on  stone  dock.  This  can  be 
done  without  any  serious  detriment  to  business.  It  would  be 
as  Mr.  Scott  says,  a  help  to  connect  this  track  at  north  end  as  it 
now  lies,  but  it  is  too  short  for  good  service.  It  should  be  ex- 
tended north  as  far  as  possible  by  cutting  ofif  stock  chutes  and 
stone  dock,  giving  a  good  long  business  track.  We  could  then 
use  the  present  business  track  for  passing  trains. 

We  need  every  inch  of  track  we  can  get  at  Kankakee,  es- 
pecially in  that  portion  of  the  yard. 

Yours  truly, 

S.  B.  Osborne,  Supt., 

Mr.  A.  B.  Abrogast,  Div.  Freight  Agent,  Kansas  City. 

Dear  Sir: — Mr.  Shuman  has  issued  under  liead  of  circular 
F46,  information  that  in  many  cases  it  has  been  found  that 
refrigerator  cars  that  are  billed  as  empties  from  Chicago  and 
other  points  to  Missouri  river  stations,  contain  freight  which  is 
not  billed  from  point  of  origin.  Cars  are  billed  as  empties,  and 
by  accident  have  been  discovered  to  contain  freight. 

These  cars  are  padlocked  on  both  sides,  and  packing  houses 
have  refused  representatives^  of  the  Inspection  Bureau  per- 
mission to  unlock  the  c^rs. 


B  USINESS  LE  TTERS.  6^ 

Will  yon  please  see  that  in  all  cases  the  agents  or  representa- 
tives of  the    Inspection    Bureau  are  afforded  all  protection   and 
assistance  in  getting  at  contents  of  cars  so  billed.' 
Yours  truly, 

S.  A.  Johnson,  A.  G.  F.  A. 

32 

Richmond,  Va.,  Nov.  29,  i8q8. 
Messrs.  Rich  &■  Jones,  Petersburg,   Va. 

Gentlemen  : — Referring  to  our  conversation  of  yesterday  after- 
noon in  regard  to  the  heating  of  your  dwelling,  I  wish  to  state 
that  my  estimate  included  a  thermostatic  damper-regulator, 
::perated  by  the  temperature  of  the  living  rooms  ;  that  is,  if  you 
set  the  thermostat  to  close  the  dampers  in  the  heater  at  70  de- 
grees thev  will  not  close  until  the  temperature  of  the  rooms 
reaches  that  point,  and  will  hold  the  heat  at  that  point  as  long  as 
there  is  any  fire  in  the  heater  by  opening  and  closing  the  dampers 
according  to  the  changes  of  the  temperature,  This  should  have 
been  mentioned  in  the  specifications,  but  was  overlooked.  There 
is  also  an  error  in  the  paragraph  under  the  head  of  "Painting 
and  Bronzing,"  It  should  read  "The  painting  and  bronzing  to 
be  done  by  the  heating  contractor."  By  making  a  change  in  the 
heater  to  conform  with  the  heating  surface,  substituting  an  or- 
dinary damper  regulator  for  the  thermostatic  regulator,  leaving 
out  the  pipe  covering,  altitude  gauge,  and  radiator  platforms,  to- 
gether with  the  extra  labor  required  to  fit  up  the  same,  I  can 
make  a  reduction  of  $150.00  from  the  original  price.  This  is  for  a 
guaranteed  apparatus,  and  one  that  will  conform  with  the  pro- 
posal which  you  referred  to  yesterday. 

Yours  truly, 

S3 — 

Lexington,  Ky.,  Oct.  i,  1898. 
Mr.  Thomas  Cowan,  Henderson,  Ky. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  yesterday  is  received  and  contents 
noted.  We  have  reset  the  pump  to  give  your  painters  water  to 
use  in  the  house  until  the  city  water  is  turned  on.  You  say  that 
we  should  not  have  taken  the  pump  out.  If  you  will  look  up 
our  estimate  of  July   7  you   will  notice  that  it  is  stated  that  the 


64  B  U  SI  NESS  LE  TTERS. 

tank  service,  which  includes  the  pump,  is  to  be  disconnected. 
The  paragraph  pertaining  to  it  reads  as  follows  :  "  To  discon- 
nect  the  tank  in  attic  and  make  a  direct  connection  with  the  city 
water;  to  place  a  safety  valve  on  the  kitchen  boiler  and  close  the 
tank  service  pipes."  When  we  examined  the  premises  with  Mr. 
Brown  he  asked  us  if  we  could  dispense  with  the  tank  and  make 
a  direct  connection  without  putting  in  new  piping.  We  told  him 
that  we  could,  and  made  our  estimate  accordingly. 
Hoping  this  explanation  will  be  satisfactory,  we  are, 
Yours  respectfully, 

H.  B.  Smith  &  Co. 

Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Oct.  5,  i8g8. 
Mr.  Edward  Saunders. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  examined  the  roof  of  the  building  No.  148 
Washington  street,  and  submit  the  following  estimate  for  re- 
pairing it :  I  will  cover  the  main  roof  and  reline  the  Mansard 
gutters  with  I.  C.  oil  finished  roofing  plate,  also  put  up  galvan- 
ized iron  leaders  from  the  main  roof  to  the  gutters,  and  replace 
the  slate,  where  it  is  necessary  to  take  it  off,  for  the  sum  of 
$225.  I  would  suggest  that  you  have  the  roof  graded  to  each 
corner,  instead  of  two  corners,  as  it  is  now,  so  that  the  water 
will  not  lie  on  the  roof  and  rust  the  tin.  I  have  included  the 
necessary  leaders  to  do  this  in  my  estimate.  Awaiting  your 
orders,  I  am. 

Yours  truly, 

R.  M.  Wilson. 

35 

New  York,  Oct.  10,  1898. 
Mr.  H.  K.  Page,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  was  very  much  surprised  when  Mr.  Smith  in- 
formed me  that  the  heater  I  put  in  your  house  on  Park  street 
was  not  giving  satisfaction,  as  I  had  visited  the  house  and 
found  everything  all  right,  apparently,  and  requested  the  tenants 
to  inform  me  of  any  defect,  should  any  appear.  As  1  had  not 
heard  from  them  I  supposed  everything  was  all  right.  Upon  a 
personal  examination  I  find  that  the  principal  cause  of  the  failure 


B  U  SI  NESS  LE  TTERS.  65 

lies  in  the  openness  of  the  building  on  top  of  the  foundation, 
which  allows  the  air  to  circulate  up  through  the  partitions 
around  the  steam  pipes,  thereby  condensing  the  steam  before  it 
reaches  the  radiators.  If  you  will  have  some  improvements 
made  to  the  building,  you  will  find  the  heater  to  have  sufficient 
capacity  to  heat  all  the  rooms  properly. 

Yours  truly, 

S.  L.  Mercer. 

Mr.  I.  F.  Pretlow. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  have  made  an  examination  of  your  house  on 
Rock  Rapids  avenue,  and  I  herewith  submit  an  estimate  for  a 
sewer  connection  to  be  made  on  the  East  Fourth  street  side  of 
the  premises  :  I  propose  to  obtain  and  pay  for  the  sewer  permit 
and  lay  a  vitrified  sewer  pipe  to  within  ten  feet  of  the  north  cellar 
wall,  from  there  continue  a  cast  iron  soil  pipe  through  the  cellar, 
and  connect  with  the  pipe  now  in  the  building  ;  to  place  a  trap 
and  fresh  air  pipe  at  the  north  cellar  wall-;  to  do  all  excavating 
excepting  rock  ;  replace  the  sod  in  the  yard,  and  finish  the  sewer 
connection  in  complete  working  order,  for  the  sum  of  $84.60, 
payable  in  thirty  days  after  the  completion  of  the  work.  Await- 
ing a  reply,  I  am,  sir. 

Yours  truly, 

P.  W.  Olive. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Nov.  30,  1898. 
Mrs.  Mabelle  Wray,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

Dear  Madam  : — Referring  to  my  examination  of  the  plans  for 
a  cottage  to  be  built  for  you  on  Prospect  avenue,  your  city,  I 
submit  the  following  estimate  for  hot  water  heating  :  I  propose 
to  .furnish  the  various  indirect  radiators  as  specified,  containing 
575  square  feet  of  heating  surface,  with  .indirect  boxes,  galvan- 
ized iron  ducts,  floor  registers  and  safety  nettings  ;  finish  all  ex- 
posed,piping  and  radiators  in  aluminum  bronze,  and  erect  the 
apparatus  iutcomplete  working  order,  for  the  net  sum  of  $356. 73^ 
I  guarantee  this  apparatus  to  heat  your  cottage  to  a  temperature 
of  70  degrees  in,  zero  weather. 


66  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

Hoping  to  receive  your  order,  which  shall  have  my  prompt  at- 
tention, I  beg  to  remain, 

Yours  very  truly, 

Wilbur  H.  Perkins. 
^ 

N.  V.  Drake,  Esq. ,  Orange,  N.  J. 

Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  recent  date,  I  beg  to  say 
that  I  have  made  an  examination  of  School  No.  6,  and  suggest 
that  the  heating  capacity  be  increased  at  least  350  square  feet  of 
radiating  surface  I  believe  from  what  information  I  can  re- 
ceive from  the  janitor  that  the  boilers  have  capacity  enough 
to  carrv  this  additional  surface,  and  I  submit  the  following 
proposition  : 

I  propose  to  furnish  and  put  in  coils  having  350  square  feet  of 
radiating  surface    properly  distributed  in  the  halls,  with  all  the 
necessary  connections,  hangers,   bronze,  etc.,   connected  in  com- 
plete working  order,  for  the  sum  of  $213. 
Hoping  to  receive  the  order. 

Yours  respectfully, 

D.  Jordan. 

Burlington,  Vt.,  Mar.  25,  1898. 
Mr.  Thomas  Forrest,  Montreal,  Can. 

Dear  Sir: — Replying  to  your  favor  of  the  23d,  would  say  that 
we  regret  to  learn  of  the  rusted  condition  in  which  the  first  of 
the  ropes  we  sent  you  arrived.  They  certainly  left  here  in  good 
condition  and  were  well  covered  with  varnish.  We  have  no  spe- 
cial mixture  which  we  use  for  these  ropes  other  than  ordinary 
asphalt  varnish,  but  we  would  advise  you  to  cover  your  ropes 
with  a  mixture  of  wood  tar  and  sawdust ;  this  we  have  always 
found  is  the  best  possible  medium  to  keep  the  ropes  in  condition 
provided,  however,  that  it  is  applied  evenly  enough  to  prevent 
their  rusting. 

Anotiier  good  mixture,  if  you  have  no  wood  tar,  is  one  of  or- 
dinary coal  tar  pitch,  melted  with  a  small  proportion  of  tallow, 
also  with  a  little  sawdust,  and  laid  on  as  heavy  as  possible,  so 
that  all  the  interstices  of  the  rope  become  well  filled. 

Yours  respectfully, 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  67 

40 

Baltimore,  Md.,  Oct    14/ 1898. 
Messrs.  James  Carlisle  &=  Ca. ,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Gen'I  LEMEN  ■. — Your  recent  favor  with  regard  to  sal  amoniac 
duly  received.  We  usually  purchase  what  we  use  ourselves 
from  our  Philadelphia  house.  We  requested  them  to  ship  you  a 
barrel  by  steamer,  but  they  advise  us  that  the  smallest  quan- 
tity they  can  buy  of  the  regular  grade  sold  for  galvanizing  is  a 
cask  of  1300 or  1400  lbs.,  at  7>^c.  per  lb.;  and  that  there  is  another 
grade  of  somewhat  better  quality,  which  comes  in  casks  of  750 
lbs.  each,  at  8c.  per  pound.  If  you  wish  us  to  ship  you  either  of 
these  kindly  inform  us  or  write  direct  to  them  on  the  subject  and 
they  will  attend  to  the  matter  promptly,  charging  you  only  the 
cost  of  handling  in  addition  to  the  price  they  pay  for  it. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Steinhauser  &  Blumenthal. 

41 

Oswego,  N.  Y.,  April  23,  1898. 
Talcott,   Williams  ^  Brown  Bolt  Co.,   Wilmington,  Del. 

Gentlemen: — Your  favor  of  the  21st  inst.  has  been  received. 
The  cause  of  the  delays  you  complain  of  is  really  not  attribu- 
table to  us,  but  rather  to  yourselves,  and  is  chiefly  due  to  the 
constant  changes  you  are  making  in  your  orders.  We  have  at 
present  over  a  hundred  tons  of  scrap  billets  and  rods  specially 
prepared  for  your  use,  and  which  is  practically  of  little  or  no  use 
to  us  without  reworking.  Now,  as  we  understand  it,  you  are 
going  back  to  boiler  plate  rods.  We  had  ceased  buying  boiler 
plate  when  you  changed  your  orders,  as  there  is  very  little  de- 
mand for  it  in  general  use  ;  consequently,  it  has  taken  us  some 
time  to  buy  enough  to  start  again. 

Yours  respectfully, 
42 

Metuchen,  N.  J.,  Sept.  10,  1898. 
Messrs.    Willitims  &^  Sons,  ^xeading.  Pa. 

Gentlemen: — Your  favor  of  the  8th  inst.  received.  We  should 
be  pleased  to  furnish  you  iron  wire  rope  of  the  sizes  mentioned,  at 
30  per  cent,  discount  from  the  enclosed  list  price,  or  caststeel  wire 


68  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

rope  at40  per  cent,  discount  from  the  enclosed  list  price,  freight  paid 
to  Reading.  As  you  will  see,  we  make  two  kinds  of  rope,  19 
wires  to  the  strand  and  7  wires  to  the  strand  ;  the  former  is,  of 
course,  the  more  fiexible.  We  write  under  the  impression  that 
you  want  a  transmission  or  hoisting  rope.  If,  however,  you  re- 
quire standing  rope  for  guys  or  something  of  that  kind  we  would 
refer  you  to  our  galvanized  rope,  the  discount  on  which  is  35  per 
cent.  The  price  list  enclosed  gives  you  the  requisite  informa- 
tion as  to  the  weight  per  foot  of  the  various  sizes. 
Hoping  to  be  favored  with  your  order,  we  are. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Bardwell  &  Co. 

43 

Messrs.  Baring  &'  Thompson,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

Gentlemen  : — Your  favor  of  the  22d  inst.  received.  We  have 
no  price  list  for  sheaves  for  elevators  and  derricks.  We  have  a 
large  number  of  patterns  of  different  diameters  and  weights  for 
such  purposes,  and  we  can  make  wheels  from  these  patterns  at  a 
price  varying  from  ^c.  per  lb.  in  the  rough  for  large  sizes  to  loc. 
per  lb.  bored  and  turned  for  small  sizes.  In  the  event  of  your 
having  any  inquiry  wherein  you  can  specify,  approximately  at 
least,  the  diameters  and  weights  of  the  wheels  wanted,  or  state 
the  strains  to  which  they  are  to  be  subjected,  we  can  then  make 
you  figures  on  the  lot.  It  is  also  necessary,  of  course,  to  let  us 
know  whether  the  buyer  wants  the  castings  rough,  or  with 
grooves  turned,  or  with  the  hubs  bored,  or  with  the  hubs  key- 
seated. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Manley  &  McAllister. 

44 

Frenchtown  Spoke  Works,  Frenchtown,  N.  f. 

Gentlemen: — Enclosed  please  find  check  for  $15.50,  in  pay- 
ment for  scrap  iron  as  per  memorandum  herewith.  We  regret 
that  there  was  not  a  more  distinct  understanding  when  you  tele- 
phoned us  concerning  the  scrap  iron  you  had  to  offer  ;  we  should 
have  stated  to  you  that  it  is  almost  impossible  for  us  to  use  iron 
which  has  gone  through  a  fire.     In  the  case  of  the  heavier  iron, 


B USINE SS  LET TERS.  69 

such  as  shafting,  etc.,  it  is  apt  to  be  so  bent  thaf  we  cannot  make 
much  use  of  it  without  spending  a  great  deal  of  money  in 
straightening  ;  and  in  the  case  of  the  lighter  iron,  such  as  hoop 
iron,  the  burning  renders  it  almost  valueless  for  subsequent  use. 
Yours  Respectfully, 

45 

Mr.   Walter  II.   Vreelatid,   Worcester,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir  : — Your  favor  of  the  3d  inst.  received  and  contents 
noted.  We  call  your  attention  to  the  large  amount  of  extra  ex- 
pense we  have  been  under  in  boxing  your  material  the  way  you 
desired.  When  the  contract  was  made  we  supposed  that  we 
should  ship  the  material  as  we  ordinarily  do,  in  box  cars,  with 
the  small  and  delicate  parts  properly  boxed,  but  with  the  large 
parts  all  sent  loose.  Following  out  your  instructions,  however, 
we  have  boxed  everything  except  the  buckets  and  the  large 
8-foot  sheaves.  It  was  in  doing  this  work  that  we  incurred  the 
extra  expense.  If  you  do  not  see  the  justice  of  this  extra 
charge,  why  of  course  we  can  say  nothing  further  in  the  matter. 

,^ Yours  respectfully, 

Messrs.  Hamilton  ^  Newman,  Carthage,  0. 

Dear  Sirs: — Your  letter  of  the  9th  inst.  is  received.  In  reply 
will  state  that  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Burt,  whose  letter  you  sent  us, 
which  we  return  herewith,  signed  our  contract  on  April  26th, 
i8g8,  so  his  order  was  not  held  for  that  reason.  It  was  shipped 
on  May  12th,  and  we  sent  you  on  that  date  bill  of  lading  for  the 
shipment.  We  cannot  understand  why  the  goods  have  not  been 
delivered.  We  have  two  tracers  out  on  same,  and  we  understand 
you  have  endeavored  to  locate  the  goods  from  your  end  of  the 
line.  We  shall  send  another  tracer  to-day.  .  If  you  do  not  re- 
ceive the  goods  within  a  few  days,  please  advise  us  and  we  will 
make  a  duplicate  shipment. 

Respectfully  yours 

JoMMES  &  Jones. 

47 

Mr.  Lewis  Keating^  Columbus,  Ga. 

Dear  Sir: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  the  12th  inst.,  will  state 
that  we  have  communicated  with  our  Mr.  James  B.  Randolohre 


70  B  USINESS  L E  TTERS. 

gardingyour  application,  and  have  his  reply  in  which  he  speak*, 
quite  well  of  your  qualifications.  We  have  not  decided  to  increase 
ourforce  in  Georgiaand  Florida,  but  if  we  should  do  so  we  will  take 
your  application  into  consideration.  Please  inform  us  by  return 
mail  what  salary  you  would  expect,  and  whether  you  are  in  a 
position  to  begin  work  on  September  ist,  in  case  we  should  de- 
cide to  give  you  employment. 

Respectfully  yours, 

^S 

Messrs.  Kellock  ^  Sons,   Trenton,  N.J. 

Dear  Sirs: — We  have  your  letter  of  the  nth  inst.  We  shall 
have  the  wheel  and  penstock  entirely  removed  to-day,  but  should 
like  you  to  send  a  man  here  on  Wednesday  to  direct  us  in  regard 
to  the  foundation.  You  have  sent  no  blue  print  showing  the  di- 
mensions of  this  wall,  and  we  are  in  doubt  as  to  how  it  should  be 
constructed.  If  you  will  send  a  man  on  Wednesday,  we  will  have 
masons  here  to  proceed  at  once  according  to  his  direction. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Ferguson  &  Martin 

49 

Messrs.  Davison  Of  Brooks,  Lexington,  N.  C. 

Gentlemen  : — Your  bill  of  April  3d,  30  days,  $325.76  due 
May  3d,  is  unpaid.  On  May  13th  we  sent  a  sight  draft  on  you 
for  collection  to  the  Scotland  Neck  Bank,  of  Scotland  Neck, 
N.  C,  but  have  been  unable  to  secure  any  return  thereon, 
although  we  have  written  the  bank  to  report  on  the  draft.  We 
would  thank  you  to  send  us  check  for  the  amount  by  return  mail. 
We  are-  holding  an  order  placed  by  you  on  June  26th  with  our 
Mr.  Stout.  Please  let  us  know  whether  it  is  your  fauU  or  that  of 
the  bank  that  the  return  has  no^  been  made  on  the  draft. 
Respectfully  yours, 

Burke  &  Clarke. 

Messrs.  Trotter  5f  Newman,  Quantico,  Md. 

Gentlemen  : — Your  letter  of  the  25th  inst.  is  received.  In 
reply  will  state  that  our  rule  is  to  require  all  persons  who  buy 
our  goods   in  jobbing  lots  to   sign  an   agreement  to   maintain 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  71 

prices.  This  rule  has  been  adopted  by  us  for  the  mutual  protea 
tion  of  the  merchant  and  our  company.  It  has  worked  well  in 
every  section  where  it  has  been  tried.  Merchants  prefer  selling 
under  contract  to  being  unrestricted.  However,  we  are  intro- 
ducing the  goods  in  your  territory,  and  as  they  are  not  yet  fully 
established,  we  shall  not  in  this  instance  insist  upon  your  sign- 
ing the  agreement,  hoping  that  you  will  find  it  to  your  interest  to 
do  so  a  little  later.  We  have  entered  your  order  for  shipment, 
and  will  have  the  goods  go  out  the  latter  part  of  this  week,  un- 
less advised  by  you  not  to  fill  the  order. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Mr.  George  Fitzgerald,  Jersey  City,  N,  J. 

Dear  Sir  : — We  are  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  3d  inst.,  with 
orders  409  to  522  inclusive,  all  of  which  we  enter  for  shipment 
with  the  exception  of  410,  which  you  will  find  enclosed  herewith. 
We  cannot  ship  B.  Mahoney  except  for  cash  or  C.  O.  D.  Mr. 
Mahoney  has  no  rating  in  Bradstreets',  and  Dun  quotes  him 
"less  than  $1,000,  fair."  When  you  return  we  should  like  you  to 
call  on  Mr.  Mahoney  and  advise  him  as  above,  and  state  that  it 
will  be  necessary  for  him  to  pay  twenty-five  cents  express 
charges  that  were  incurred  in  the  last  shipment  made  him,  by 
reason  of  his  having  refused  the  goods  when  delivered  by  the 
express  company. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Paterson  &  Fraser. 

52 

Mr.  F.  J.  Fiedler,  Brownsville,   Tenn. 

Dear  Sir: — Enclosed  find  copy  of  letter  received  from  Did- 
lake  &  Co  ,  of  Cairo,  111.,  regarding  their  last  invoice,  viz.,  June 
gth,  60  days,  $345.75.  We  have  written  them  that  inasmuch  as 
there  was  delay  in  filling  the  order  we  recognize  the  justice  of 
their  claim  and  will,  in  case  they  ask  for  an  extension  when  the 
bill  matures,  grant  it.  We  also  write  them  that  we  will  call  youi 
attention  to  their  communication  and  have  you  assist  them  in 
disposing  of  the  goods  when  you  resume  work.  This  you  will 
please  do.     Return  letter  with  your  reply. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Brigham  &  Mann. 


72  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

53 

Mr.  Harvey  Jenks,  Pensacola,  Flor. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  the  5lh  inst.  addressed  to  our  Mr. 
T.  C.  Jenkins  is  received.  We  very  much  regret  our  failure  to 
receive  your  order  for  C.  D.  Ericsson,  Tampa,  Flor.,  in  season 
to  ship  last  month,  so  as  to  enable  you  to  receive  the  rebate 
payable  July  ist.  You  state  that  you  placed  the  order  on  the 
23d.  We  did  not  receive  it  from  our  Mr.  Jenkins  until  the  29th, 
too  late  for  shipment  on- that  date.  The  next  shipping  day  was 
July  2d,  on  which  date  the  goods  went  out.  Had  we  received 
the  order  one  day  earlier,  the  shipment  would  have  gone  on  the 
2gth  of  June  and  you  would  have  received  the  rebate  thereon  for 
the  quarter  ending  June  30th.  All  rebates  have  now  been  figurec! 
up  and  we  expect  to  begin  paying  them  to-day. 
Respectfully  yours, 

Kammel  &  Co. 

54 

Mr.  Horace  B.  Lowe,  Flemington,  N.  y. 

Dear  Sir: — It  has  been  customary  with  us  in  previous  years  to 
grant  our  retail  salesmen,  employed  in  canvassing  the  trade  in 
New  York  State  and  New  Jersey,  a  vacation  during  the  month  of 
July.  We  have  concluded  to  pursue  the  same  course  this  year. 
Therefore,  after  completing  your  labors  on  the  30th  inst.,  you 
will  please  retire  for  the  month  of  July.  We  will  pay  your  salary 
for  half  the  month.  No  allowance  will  be  made  for  traveling 
expenses;  therefore,  when  you  finish  your  work  next  Tuesday 
send  us  your  expense  sheet,  with  check  covering  funds  which  you 
may  have  on  hand,  sent  you  to  defray  your  traveling  expenses. 

Respectfully  .yours, 

Mr.  D.  17.  Wightman,  Marshmlle,  Flor. 

Dear  Sir: — We  were  indeed  very  much  surprised  to  learn 
through  your  letter  of  the  12th  inst  ,  that  Mr.  Adams  had  been 
obliged  to  make  a  voluntary  assignment  of  all  his  property  for 
the  benefit  of  his  creditors.  We  beg  to  hand  you  enclosed  here- 
with verified  itemized  statement  of  our  account  against  Mr. 
Adams,  showing  $240.68  due.     As  soon  as  you  have  completed 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  73 

taking  stock  and  made  a  complete  detailed  inventory  of  all  the 
assets,  we  should  be  pleased  to  have  you  inform  us  as  to  the 
amount  of  his  liabilities  and  assets,  and  what  percentage  the 
creditors  will  receive. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Ripley  &  Garside. 

^56 

Mr.   William  H.  Davison,  Rcinc,  Ga. 

Dear  Sir: — Mr.  Campbell  has  sent  us  your  letter  to  him  of 
the  2ist  inst  ,  and  we  hand  you  enclosed  herewith  verified  item- 
ized statement  of  our  account  against  Brooks  &  Elliot,  Rome, 
Ga.  This  account,  as  you  will  observe,  has  been  on  our  books 
since  i8go,  and  we  should  be  pleased  to  receive  a  remittance 
from  them  for  balance  due,  to  wit:  $87.96.  We  show  on  this 
statement  credits  amounting  to  $74.38.  If  they  are  not  in  a  posi- 
tion to  pay  all  the  amount  at  once,  we  should  be  pleased  to  ac- 
cept something  on  account,  with  the  understanding  that  the  bal- 
ance will  be  paid  in  a  short  time. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

Morris  &  Johnson. 

57 

Mr.  Jacob  Griffith,  Chicago   III. 

DicAR  Sir  : — We  are  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  23d  inst., 
with  your  daily  report  ov  the  same  day.  We  have  taken  pleasure 
in  entering  your  sub-orders,  97  and  98.  They  will  go  forward  in 
the  manner  you  request. 

Mr.  Duffy  writes  that  you  asked  him  to  forward  you  $10  to  de- 
fray your  traveling  expenses  for  the  balance  of  the  month.  As  your 
expense  sheets  now  go  to  Mr.  Duffy  for  approval  before  they  come 
to  us,  you  should  anticipate  your  wants.  When  you  find  your 
balance  running  low,  request  us  to  mail  you  check. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Sullivan  &  Walsh. 

58 

Messrs.  Hightower  &=  Peeples,  Brunswick,  Ga. 

Dear  Sirs  :— We  have  your  letter  of  the  i8th  inst.  We  find 
that  we  wrote  you  on  February  4th  and  March  6th,  in  regard  to 
the  complaint  rendered  by  Hall  &  Knox,  Sandusky,  Ga.     Ours  of 


74  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

the  6th  was  in  answer  to  yours  of  March  5th,  and  you  will  ob- 
serve by  referring  to  our  letter  that  we  slated  :  "  We  should  like 
to  close  this  matter,  but  cannot  do  so  until  we  have  your  reply." 
Now  that  you  explain  the  circumstances  we  will  allow  you  credit 
for  the  amount  of  their  claim,  to  wit  :  $28.75,  and  you  in  turn 
will  please  credit  their  account  with  this  amount. 

Yours  truly, 

PiTNER  &  Griggs. 

59 

Columbus  Table  Company,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Gentlemen: — We  are  in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  September 
16,  enclosing  order,  and  also  check  for  $48.68,  which  we  have 
placed  to  your  credit.  We  do  not  think  it  is  just  to  ask  us  to 
stand  the  express  on  our  invoice  of  June  5th,  under  the  circum- 
stances, as  we  got  the  order  out  very  promptly.  We  will,  how- 
ever, give  you  credit  for  the  amount  the  freight  would  have 
been,  80  cents. 

We  enclose  a  statement  of  the  balance  of  your  account  unpaid, 
and  would  ask  you  to  either  send  your  check,  or  your  30  days'  ac- 
ceptance for  same  at  once.  We  are  in  urgent  need  of  the  funds, 
and  must  insist  upon  a  settlement  in  one  way  or  another.  We 
trust  you  will  appreciate  our  position  in  this  matter,  and  let  us 
hear  from  you  by  return  mail. 

Yours  truly, 

Aldridge  &  Shove. 
60 

The  Monarch  Table  Company,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Gentlemen: — We  are  in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  July  31st, 
asking  if  we  should  be  able  to  furnish  you  from  500,000  to  750,000 
feet  of  tops  during  1899,  the  sizes  to  be  the  same  as  those  we 
have  been  furnishing  you.  We,  of  course,  shall  be  able  to  fur- 
nish the  quantity,  but  can  not  do  so  at  the  price  at  which  we 
have  been  furnishing  you  tops.  We  took  your  order  just  as  we 
were  entering  in  this  business,  when  we  had  refuse  lumber 
enough  to  build  all  the  tops  we  were  making.  Since  then  we 
have  taken  a  good  many  more  orders,  and  have  to  buy  a  large 
amount  of  the  lumber  used. 


B  USINESS  LE  T  TER  S.  75 

The  lowest  price  we  can  now  make  any  one  on  this  class  of 
stock  is  10  j4  cents  per  square  foot.  We  should  be  glad  to  enter 
into  a  contract  with  you  at  this  price  for  the  quantity  of  stock  you 
expect  to  require,  after  the  contract  we  now  have  has  been  filled. 

Yours  truly, 

Ludlow  &  Dingley. 
6f 

TAe  Everett  Flint  Paper  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 

Gentlemen  : — We  are  in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  recent  date, 
and  note  contents.  Our  sander  man  reports  the  paper  as  being 
in  good  condition  when  it  was  received,  and  he  thinks  it  was 
thoroughly  dry.  All  the  paper  we  used  has  been  destroyed. 
However,  we  have  instructed  him  to  put  some  of  this  paper  on 
the  sander,  and  to  save  it  for  vcturn  with  the  unused  rolls  the'first 
of  next  week. 

We  regret  exceedingly  that  we  are  unable  to  use  the  paper,  as 
we  certainly  should  be  pleased  to  give  you  some  business  in  this 
line,  and  we  hope  your  efforts  to  produce  a  good  article  will  yet 
have  their  reward. 

Yours  truly, 

Workington  &  Dunwoody. 

62 

3fr.  Frederick  Sckhss,  Paterson,  N.  J. 

Dear  Sir  : — We  have  your  favor  of  Aug.  11,  enclosing  order 
for  single-ply  bass-wood  veneers.  We  are  also  in  receipt  of  a 
letter  from  the  parties  who  are  cutting  these  veneers,  saying  that 
they  will  not  be  able  to  furnish  this  stock  immediately.  How- 
ever, we  have  sent  your  order  on  with  instructions  that  if  they 
can  fill  it  by  the  time  you  require  they  may  go  ahead  with  the 
order,  and  if  not,  to  wire  us.  As  soon  as  we  hear  from  them  we 
shall  advise  you  fully. 

Some  time  since  you  promised  us  that  as  soon  as  you  had  a 
meeting  of  your  foremen  to  find  out  what  panels  they  needed,  you 
would  send  us  an  order  for  same.  Up  to  this  date  we  have  not 
heard  from  you  on  the  subject.  We  shall  be  pleased  if  you  can 
send  us  some  nice  orders. 

Yours  truly, 

MORLEY   &    HaRCOURT. 


76  BUSINESS  LET  TEH  S. 

63 

Mr.  D.  E.  Pease,  Durand,  III. 

Dear  Sir: — The  delay  in  replying  to  your  favor  of  Nov.  4th  to 
Mr.  Porter  has  been  unavoidable,  owing  to  investigation. 

We  have  gone  into  this  matter  pretty  thoroughly  with  our 
agent,  and  from  the  information  obtained,  I  do  not  see  that  you 
have  any  particular  cause  for  complaint.  Our  agent  assures  me 
that  he  has  in  all  cases  divided  cars  equally. 

There  is  certainly  no  intention  on  our  part  to  interfere  with 
your  business,  nor  not  to  keep  you  well  supplied  with  cars,  so 
far  as  is  possible.  But  you  must  understand  that  at  present  we 
are  very  short  of  cars  on  our  system,  and  in  many  cases  can 
furnish  only  a  few,  where  many  are  ordered.  In  such  cases  we  • 
endeavor  to  be  as  fair  as  possible  in  the  distribution  and  give 
proportionately  to  each  one. 

If  you  have  any  further  trouble,  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from 
you,  and  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  see  that  your  business  is 
taken  care  of. 


U 


-64 — 


Mr.  G.  L.  Hamilton,  Supt.,  Chicago. 

Dear  Sir  : — Referring  to  your  letter  regarding  carload  of 
shingle  machinery  from  Oshkosh  destined  to  Seattle  would  say, 
that  I  have  had  this  matter  up  and  find  that  the  agent  billed 
same  in  error  at  carload  rate  for  machinery.  It  passed  Minne- 
sota Transfer  in  error  and  was  delivered  at  destination  on  basis 
of  the  same  rate. 

I  have  had  this  matter  up  with  the  Northern  Pacific  people  and 
they  advise  me  that  shipment  was  inspected  at  destination,  and 
the  inspector  at  that  point,  together  with  the  railroad  agent,  de- 
cided that  billing  at  carload  rate  was  correct,  as  shipment  prop- 
erly consisted  of  saw-mill  machinery. 

Regret  the  error  in  this  case,  if  shipment  was  improperlj' 
billed,  but  from  investigation  I  judge  it  was  not. 

Yours  truly. 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  77 

Mr.  Ji.  Mosely,  Agent,  Monroe,   Wis. 

Dear  Sir: — Referring  to  your  telegram,  attached,  regarding 
moving  of  hay  press  from  Monroe  to  Brodhead  for  C.  H. 
Hobart,  free,  on  account  of  his  having  been  burned  out,  would 
say,  we  appreciate  the  fact  that  Mr.  Hobart's  business  is  valuable 
to  us,  but  you  understand  such  things  as  this  occur  daily  at  some 
point  on  our  line,  and  should  we  undertake  to  give  relief  to  all 
who  suffer  thus,  we  should  be  hauling  a  good  portion  of  our 
business  for  nothing. 

W,e,  of  course,  desire  to  assist  our  friends  where  it  is  possible, 
but  I  think  Mr.  Hobart,  as  well  as  yourself,  can  see  the  effect  of 
conceding  charges  in  such  cases.  I  understand  that  such  things 
have  been  done  in  the  past,  but  the  custom  was  established  at  a 
time  when  we  got  good  rates  on  all  business  handled,  but  the 
scale  has  been  decreasing  right  along,  and  at  present  we  are  not 
getting  any  more  than  will  pay  us  for  service  rendered. 

Yours  truly, 

S.  A.  Johnson,  A.  G.  F.  A. 

■'—66 

Mr.  H.  P.  Fitzwilliam,  Freight  Claim  Agent,  Chicago, 

Dear  Sir  : — I  enclose  some  papers  relative  to  shipment  of 
wind-mills  made  from  Decorah,  Iowa,  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
which  was  very  badly  delayed.  The  investigation  so  far  will 
explain  itself. 

Pending  presentation  of  claim,  will  you  kindly  take  the 
matter  up  and  have  the  following  points  straightened  out  :  Ship- 
ment left  Decorah  Oct.  2nd,  and  did  not  reach  Savanna  until 
Oct.  7th.  Have  the  delay  in  this  case  accounted  for,  and  also 
investigate  and  advise  as  to  subsequent  shipment  on  Savanna 
way-bill  1558,  Nov.  17th,  shortage  on  which  appears  to  have 
been  forwarded  on  that  day  to  complete  shipment. 

What  I  wish  to  know  is,  was  the  shortage  the  fault  of  this  com- 
pany, or  the  fault  of  the  shippers? 

Would  also  call  your  attention  to  Mr.  Reynolds's  letter  of 
December  3d,  in  which  he  states  that  he  wired  Savanna  several 


78  B  U  SI  NESS  LE  T  TERS. 

times  for  prepayment  on  this  shipment.     Ascertain  why  these 
telegrams  were  not  replied  to  and  prompt  prepayment  made. 

Mr.  Angell  is  anxious  to  get  all  the  information  possible  in 
connection  with  this  shipment  as  quickly  as  it  can  be  obtained. 
Will  you  please  give  this  your  immediate  attention,  and  oblige, 
Yours  truly. 

S.  A.  Johnson,  A.  G.  P.  A. 

Mr.  W.  Carter,  General  Manager,  Buffalo,  JV.    Y. 

Dear  Sir  : — Your  two  favors  of  the  3d  at  hand  and  fully  noted. 
I  am  glad  you  are  hurrying  the  steamers.  Just  at  present  we 
are  having  all  the  property  we  can  take  care  of,  and  a  little  more, 
how  long  it  will  last  under  my  instructions  to  agents  generally 
I  am  unable  to  say,  but  I  thought  it  was  a  fair  proposition,  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  it  was  likely  to  come  faster  than  we  could 
take  care  of  it,  to  advise  them  as  I  have.  When  I  see  it  be- 
ginning to  slacken,  I  will  take  measures  to  pick  it  up  again. 
Although  it  is  not  good  policy  to  play  fast  and  loose,  yet  under 
the  circumstances  it  seemed  to  me  to  be  the  only  thing  to  do. 

As  I  wired  you  to-day,  we  have  sixty-two  hundred  tons  on 
hand  in  both  places.  Of  this  the  New  York  will  take  twenty- 
two  hundred  tons,  leaving  four  thousand  tons,  which  will  prac- 
tically load  the  Vancouver  and  Eola,  and  we  are  certain  to  ac- 
cumulate enough  and  more  than  enough  to  load  the  Venta 
by  the  time  we  get  her 

Yours  truly, 

E.  C.  Lamson,  Agent. 

68 

Mr.  Harold  McDonald,  Cleveland,  O, 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  your  letter  of  November  13th  relative  to 
sugar  losses  by  canal  and  lake. 

It  seems  to  me  absolutely  impossible  for  us  to  determine  here 
what  packages  have  received  damage  while  in  our  hands.  As  I 
have  previously  advised  you,  it  would  be  necessary  for  us  to 
weigh  every  package  and  have  it  scrutinized  very  closely  before 
delivering  to  teams,  in  order  to  determine  whether  the  packages 
had  been  recoopered,  and  this  process  would  make  deliveries  so 
slow   that  we  should  be  unable  to  transact  our  west-bound  bus- 


B  U  SI  NESS  LE  T  TERS.  79 

iness  through  our  premises  and  give  steamers  any  dispatch  what- 
ever. Besides,  it  would  be  expensive  in  the  matter  of  clerk  hire 
and  extra  labor,  with  the  added  result  that  our  claims  for  loss 
and  damage  would  not  be  materially  reduced.  I  am  satisfied 
that  99!^  of  the  claims  that  are  made  are  just,  as  the  scale  weights 
at  the  consignees'  stores  are  essentially  accurate. 

In  regard  to  the  closing  paragraph  of  your  letter  I  would  say, 
that  the  methods  in  vogue  up  to  this  time  with  us  are  those 
which  you  adopted  when  you  were  agent  at  Chicago,  and  I  have 
been  unable  up  to  this  time  to  evolve  any  better,  taking  every- 
thing into  consideration. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  L   GoDDARD,  Agent. 

■   ^-^6q 

C.  A.  Andrews,  Siipt.,  Omaha. 

Dear  Sir: — The  time  schedule  for  conductors  was  based  on 
their  making  a  certain  average  rate  per  day  for  thirty-one  days 
in  a  month. 

If,  as  a  matter  of  accommodation  to  them,  the  runs  are  ar- 
ranged so  that  some  crews  make  over  mileage  and  other  crews 
make  under  mileage  in  a  month,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  matter 
should  be  arranged  on  a  basis  that  will  give  each  crew  a  full 
month  and  no  more.  The  total  mileage  made  by  all  of  the 
crews  will  not  exceed  the  mileage  specified  in  the  schedule. 

Take  it  up  with  the  passenger  train  crews  on  this  basis,  and 
see  if  it  will  not  be  satisfactory  to  them.  In  the  long  run,  it  will 
be  perfectly  fair  to  all  the  men.  Of  course  we  do  not  wish  any 
of  the  men  to  move,  or  make  any  change  that  will  impose  a 
hardship  on  them.  On  the  other  hand,  we  expect  them  to  meet 
the  company  in  the  samt  spirit,  and  be  willing  to  do  what  is  fair 
in  the  .natter. 

Regarding  Conductor  Miller,  would  say,  if  in  running  special 
trail. s  he  made  635  miles  over  the  maximum  mileage  mentioned 
in  the  schedule  for  a  month's  work  on  his  regular  run,  he  is  en- 
titled to  pay  for  it  at  the  rate  specified  for  over  mileage  to  pas- 
senger conductors. 

Yours  truly, 

F.  E.  Smith,  Genl.  Sufi/. 


8o  B  U  SIN  ESS  LE  T  TERS. 

Mr.  H.  R.  Kir kpa trick,  G.  F.  A. 

Dear  Sir  : — After  conversation  with  you  yesterday  on  the  tele- 
phone, I  received  by  mail  a  copy  of  your  circular  of  Nov.  13th, 
and  also  received  another  copy  this  morning  with  memorandum 
that  you  advised  the  agent  at  Marshalltown  to  receive  six  cars  of 
freight  consigned  care  of  the  Anchor  Line. 

There  is  no  question  but  that  you  have  the  privilege  of  saying 
what  you  will  or  what  you  will  not  do  in  reference  to  steamboat 
freight,  but  you  will  remember  that  I  have  had  conversations 
with  you  for  the  last  three  or  four  years  in  regard  to  this  closing 
business,  and  that  at  no  time  has  this  company  placed  your  com- 
pany in  any  unfair  or  uncomfortable  position.  You  have  not 
been  called  upon  to  pay  out  one  cent  on  account  of  our  failure  to 
take  property.  Our  western  agents  have  instructions  always  to 
take  property  the  15th  of  November  conditional  upon  our  ability 
to  forward  by  lakes.  In  the  event  of  our  not  being  able  to  do  it, 
we  are  allowed  to  forward  same  all  rail  at  correct  rail  rates. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  I  think  your  position  towards  this  com- 
pany is  very  arbitrary.  I  see  no  reason  why  we  should  be  pre- 
vented from  taking  care  of  our  business  from  points  on  your  line 
simply  for  the  reason  that  some  other  lines  with  whom  you  con- 
nect fail  to  do  their  business  in  a  business-like  manner.  1  think 
you  would  consider  it  rather  arbitrary  if  we  should  decline  to 
deliver  to  you  property  that  shippers  and  consignees  were  anxious 
to  have  go  over  your  system,  simply  because  we  had  been  un- 
fortunate in  our  relations  with  your  western  competitors. 
Yours  truly, 

Francis  Whipple. 

Mr.  S.  Simpson. 

Dear  Sir  : — Referring  to  proposition  you  made  some  time  ago 
to  make  joint  switching  service  at  Milwaukee  would  say,  I  was 
misinformed  as  to  the  situation  at  that  place  when  I  declined 
your  proposition. 

I  have  had  occasion  to  look  into  it  recently,  and  I  am  con- 
vinced that  your  proposition  was  a  good  one,  and  will  save 
money  for  both  companies.      If  you  are  still  agreeable,  we  will 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  8i 

make  a  joint  switching  arrangement  at  that  place  commencing 
May  1st,  we  to  furnish  the  engine  and  engine-crew  three  months, 
and  you  to  furnish  them  three  months,  turn  about,  and  make 
bills  against  each  other  the  same  as  we  do  for  joint  engine  at 
Janesville. 

As  our  joint  engine  at  Janesville  will  be  relieved  on  May  ist.  I 
should  like  to  furnish  the  engine  for  the  three  months  commenc- 
ing May  1st. 

I  presume  the  same  switchmen  will  be  employed  all  the  time, 
and  carried  on  your  rolls  when  you  furnish  the  engine,  and  on 
ours  when  we  furnish  it. 

U'uder  the  present  method  of  doing  the  work,  the  patrons  of 
both  companies  at  Milwaukee  are  dissatisfied  with  the  service. 

I  think  the  proposed  arrangement  will  be  satisfactory  to  them 
and  will  be  cheaper  for  both  companies. 

Yours  truly, 

R.  A.  Raw^lings,  Supt. 

72 

District  Superintendents  : 

The  General  Freight  Department  has  issued  new  instructions 
vo  agents  in  regard  to  weighing  of  grain  at  milling  or  cleaning- 
in-transit  stations. 

At  a  number  of  such  stations  there  are  private  track-scales. 
You  will  please  see  the  owners  of  such  scales  and  arrange  with 
them  for  the  weighing  of  grain  of  all  parties  received  at  or 
forwarded  from  such  stations.  You  will  also  give  instructions 
to  agents  at  all  such  points,  that  the  weighing  on  any  private 
track-scales  of  shipments  received  or  forwarded  must  in  all 
cases  be  done  by  station  agents,  or  other  authorized  represen- 
tative of  this  company. 

Owners  of  private  scales  have  in  nearly  every  case  been  aided 
by  the  railway  company — either  in  the  way  of  material,  labor, 
or  transportation — and  we  expect  that  they  will  permit  us  the 
use  of  their  scales. 

Advise  me  promptly  the  names  of  all  stations  where  milling  or 
cleaning-in-transit  business  is  conducted  at  which  there  are 
private  track-scales,  and  of  the  arrangement  that  you  have 
made  with  owners  of  such  scales  for  their  use  by  the  company. 

General  Superintendent. 


82  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

73 

Mr.   Notion   Trtmx, 

Dear  Sir  : — The  enclosed  notice  has  been  forwarded  me  by 
the  Superintendent  of  our  La  Crosse  Division. 

In  regard  to  it  I  beg  to  say,  that  where  our  agents  are  also 
agents  of  your  company,  it  is  not  practicable  to  carry  out  this 
plan,  and  we  object  to  doing  it,  for  the  reason  that  agents  do  not 
have  time  to  carry  the  mails  to  the  post  office,  nor  do  they  have 
time  to  get  such  mail  from  the  box  and  carry  it  to  mail  cars  on 
trains,  as  when  trains  are  at  their  stations  they  have  all  they 
can  do  attending  to  passengers,  baggage,  etc.,  and  have  no  time 
to  perform  this  work. 

An  additional  objection  is  that  the  U,  S.  Post  Office  officials 
object  to  agents  of  railway  companies  receivijjg  mail  for  delivery 
to  mail  cars,  claiming  that  where  the  salary  of  the  postmaster  is 
dependent  upon  his  sales  it  seriously  interferes  with  his 
revenues. 

I  trust  you  will  see  the  reasonableness  of  our  objections  and 
recall  those  instructions  at  all  points  on  our  lines  where  our 
agents  are  also  agents  for  the  express  company. 

Yours  truly, 

Leonard  McPhail. 

74 

Mr.  John  L.   Warner,  Secy.,  Atkins  &"  Co.,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  October  gth  en- 
closing your  claim  on  32  cars  at  $7.50  per  car  for  switching 
charges. 

I  beg  to  advise  you  that  I  cannot  allow  $7.50  on  twelve-ton 
cars.  I  have  advised  you  to  this  effect  on  a  previous  occasion. 
I  would  say  to  you  again  that  notwithstanding  Mr.  Mansfield's 
letter  to  me,  I  have  no  arrangement  with  him  to  pay  at  the  rate 
of  $7.50  per  car  on  such  amounts.  If  either  you  or  Mr.  Mans- 
field will  refer  to  my  letter  of  July  27th  last,  you  will  note  that  I 
stated:  "This  you  understand  is  on  the  basis  of  15  cents  per 
hundred  to  New  York  and  we  absorb  switching  charge  of  $7.50 
per  car.  Please  advise  your  people  to  load  the  cars  as  heavily  as 
possible."     These  cars  were  loaded  to  me  from  your  works  all 


B  USINESS  LE  TTERS.  ^2, 

the  way  from  30  to  40  thousand  pounds,  and  were  split  here 
according  to  your  directions;  consequently  the  spirit  of  our 
agreement  is  not  lived  up  to  when  you  charge  me  with  switching 
a  number  of  cars  that  were  not  switched. 

I  also  note  that  you  billed  on  the  17th  and  19th  of  October,  car 
to  Salford  and  Telford,  Penn.  -This  was  done  after  I  advised 
Mr.  Mansfield  that  we  could  not  allow  switching  to  those  points. 

I  wish  you  would  kindly  correct  your  bill  and  send  it  to  me  at 
once,  in  order  that  I  may  pay  the  same. 

Yours  truly, 

75 

Mr.  D.  Linday,  Agent,  Hawkeye,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir  : — Replying  to  your  request,  attached,  for  rate  on 
butter,  carloads  and  less  than  carloads,  from  Hawkeye  to  New 
Orleans  would  say,  the  rate  on  butter,  any  quantity,  in  carloads 
from  Davenport  to  New  Orleans,  is  40  cents  per  hundred  pounds. 
From  Hawkeye  to  Davenport  use  Iowa  distance  tariff,  which 
makes  rate  of  19  cents  on  carloads  and  35  cents  on  less  than 
carloads.     This  is  the  lowest  combination. 

If  you  wish  rate  via  Illinois  Central,  use  Iowa  distance  tariff, 
Hawkeye  to  Dubuque,  which  makes  rate  on  carloads  18  cents, 
and  on  less  than  carloads  22  cents.  Rate  from  Dubuque  to  New 
Orleans,  carloads  and  less,  by  the  Illinois  Central,  is  95  gents 
per  hundred. 

Yours  truly, 

Mr.  E.  Ketchum,  D.  E.  dr'  P.  A.,  Mason  City,  Tozva. 

Dear  Sir  : — Referring  to  your  letter  of  the  2d  inst.  in  which 
you  refer  to  mine  of  the  2gth  ult. ,  in  which  I  quoted  you  rate  of 
38  cents  on  wheat  from  White  Lake  to  Topeka,  Kansas,  would 
say,  this  is  the  lowest  that  can  be  made  and  is  the  sum  of  the 
locals  via  Council  Bluffs. 

Rate  from  White  Lake  to  Council  Bluffs  is  24  cents ;  Council 
Bluffs  to  Topeka  14  cents ;  through  38  cents. 

White  Lake  to  Kansas  City  32  cents ;  Kansas  City  to  Topeka  7 
cents  ;  through  39  cents. 


i4  BUSIATESS  LETTERS. 

The  lowest  combination  is  made  by  using  locals  via  Council 
Blufifs,  as  you  will  see  by  the  above  comparison. 

Yours  truly. 

Stuyvesant  Stern bach. 

77 

Mr.  C.  A.  Henry,  Sttpt.,   Dubuque,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir: — We  contemplate  loading  an  air-brake  freight  car 
at  Dubuque  daily,  Sundays  excepted,  for  points  on  the  Daven- 
port and  Calmar  Line  north  of  Monticello. 

This  car  should  go  out  each  evening  on  the  Illinois  Central, 
and  it  will  be  necessary  to  haul  it  from  Farley  to  Monticello  on 
our  passenger  train.  If  a  large  amjunt  of  freight  were  in  the 
car,  it  would  go  north  from  Monticello;  if  a  small  amount,  it 
would  be  transferred  at  Monticello,  and  the  car  returned  to 
Dubuque. 

Would  it  be  necessary  to  change  the  time  of  our  passenger 
train  between  Farley  and  Monticello  in  order  to  put  this  arrange- 
ment into  effect?  And  on  what  train  would  the  empty  car  be 
returned  to  Farley? 

78 

Mr.  E.  F.  Carter,    Supt..  Sioux  City,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir: — I  send  you  correspondence  regarding  time  slips  of 
Engineers  L.  A.  Downer  and  E.  Monk,  for  doubling  Sioux  Falls 
hill,  when  directed  by  train  dispatcher  to  take  more  than  a  full 
train,  and  double  if  necessary. 

I  find  that  under  these  circumstances  it  has  been  customary  on 
runs  of  one  hundred  miles  or  more  to  allow  actual  mileage  made 
in  doubling  a  hill  when  run  is  completed  inside  of  time  allowed 
for  making  it  under  the  schedule.  You  will  therefore  please 
approve  these  slips  and  advise  the  engineers  that  allowance 
will  be  made.  Of  course  this  allowance  is  not  to  be  made  where 
regular  doubling  tracks  are  put  in,  and  trains  are  regularly  given 
such  cars  as  will  require  the  doubling  of  certain  hills. 
Yours  truly, 

Edward  Hickok,  Genl.  Supt. 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  85 

79 

Mr.  C.  A.  Peabody,  Snpt.,   Mason  City,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir: — I  am  informed  that  it  is  customary  to  run  light 
engines  on  your  division  without  a  conductor  ;  that  you  fre- 
quently send  an  engine  from  Sanborn  to  Hartley  to  help  trains 
into  Sanborn  with  no  one  in  charge  but  the  engineer  and  fireman. 
This  is  contrary  to  instructions  and  must  be  stopped. 

No  engine  should  be  run  on  the  main  line  without  a  conductor 
in  charge.  When  a  light  engine  is  run  backing  in  the  night,  a 
headlight,  or  despatcher's  lantern,  should  be  fastened  on  the  cab 
or  on  the  tender. 

'  In  ordering  engines  to  help  trains,  the  rule   requiring  the  first 
man  due  to  go  out  to  be  called  for  the  service,  must  be  followed. 

80 

Mr.  II.  G.  Baker,  Coal  Traffic  Manager,  New  York. 

Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  letter  attached  hereto,  I  beg  to 
say  that  the  connecting  line  moves  these  cars  on  the  regular 
way-bills,  and  that  as  a  great  many  arrive  here  in  the  night, 
when  they  come  under  the  direction  of  the  yardmaster  and  are 
handled  in  haste  to  avoid  detention,  errors  are  easily  overlooked. 

Our  records  of  this  business  are  made  from  tissue  copies  of  the 
way-bills  furnished  us  by  the  forwarding  agents,  which  we  look 
over,  and  if  we  find  errors  we  issue  corrections;  in  fact,  the  way- 
bills to  which  you  make  reference  in  your  letter  were  so  corrected 
by  us. 

I  will  endeavor  to  have  the  night  force  look  after  the  matter 
more  closely  in  the  future,  and  I  hope  you  will  have  no  further 
cause  for  complaint. 

Yours  very  truly, 

George  H.  Kenyon,  Agent. 

Mr.  I.  L.  Gage,  Superintendmt,  Akron,  0. 

Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  favor  of  yesterday  relative  to 
telephone  service  at  this  station,  I  would  say  that  such  service 
between  this  station  and  West  Winfield  is  indispensable.  We 
find   it  necessary  in   the  movement  of  trains  into  and  out  of  the 


86  BUSINESS  LETTERS. 

yard,  for  the  use  of  the  yardmaster  for  other  purposes,  and  also 
to  deliver  messages  to  the  shops,  there  being  no  operator  in  the 
office  at  West  Winfield. 

The  phone  at  this  station  is  furnished  free  but  the  one  in  the 
other  station  is  paid  for  by  the  C.  &  C.  people.  These  phones 
are  connected  with  the  Central  and  are  used  by  the  patrons  of 
the  road  to  communicate  with  us  concerning  freight,  etc. 

A  short  line  between  the  stations  would  serve  my  purpose  bu) 
would  inconvenience  many  of  our  shippers. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  D.  Barnes,  Agent. 

82 

Mr.   W.  A.  Quinn,  Freight  Claim  Agent. 

Dear  Sir: — Kindly  note  attached  correspondence  relative  to 
one  barrel  glassware  consigned  to  the  Thomas  Dry  Goods  Com- 
pany, St.  Louis,  Mo.,  forward  from  here  on  Franklin  to  Chicago 
way  bill  No.  251,  January  23d,  1899.  Our  second  tracer  has 
developed  the  fact  that  the  shipment  was  checked  short  at 
Chicago,  this  being  our  first  notice  of  the  shortage. 

The  shipper  of  this  barrel,  who  is  a  very  good  patron  of  the 
road,  is  very  indignant  in  regard  to  the  delay,  and  says  he  is 
likely  to  lose  the  trade  of  the  firm  thereby. 

Will  you  kindly  endeavor  to  locate  the  goods,  have  delivery 
made,  and  advise  me  of  the  same,  so  that  I  may  convince  the 
shipper  that  we  are  not  indifferent  in  the  matter. 

Yours  very  truly, 

K.  T.  Yates,  Agent. 

S3 

J.  L.  Henning,  Esq,  Supt.,   Adams  Ex.  Co.,  Chicago. 

Dear  Sir: — This  afternoon  Constable  Delong,  of  this  town 
served  an  attachment  (copy  enclosed)  on  one  package  said  to 
contain  500  cigars  and  a  watch,  consigned  to  J.  K.  Blossom,  and 
also  on  a  box  and  package  said  to  contain  cigars,  watch,  and  a 
dice  machine  consigned  to  H.  J.  Atkins.  Goods  were  shipped  by 
Upton  &  Co.,  No.  250  State  street,  Chicago.  Party  making  at- 
tachment is  J.  F.  Branders,  who  claims  that  Upton  &  Co.  owe 
him  fifty  dollars  for  "salary. 


BUSINESS  LETTERS.  37 

Kindly  advise  as  soon  as  possible  what  action  we  are  to  take 
in  the  matter,  as  proceedings  will  be  taken  before  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  here  on  the  8th  instant. 

Yours  truly, 

P.  L.  Lane,  Agent. 

84 

Mr.  Elmer  Horkman. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  your  favor  of  January  3d,  and  tnust  say 
that  the  calm  assurance  with  which  you  simply  state  that,  "I 
have  searched  our  office  and  am  unable  to  find  the  tickets  "  rather 
appalls  me.  These  tickets  were  sent  to  you  upon  your  request, 
in  order,  I  presume,  that  you  might  verify  our  claim  upon  you. 
It  was  no  particular  accommodation  to  us  to  forward  them  to 
you.  and  it  is  a  serious  loss  to  us  not  to  have  them.  The  money 
value  of  the  coupons  belongs  to  one  of  our  connecting  lines  and 
unless  you  can  locate  for  us  by  whose  trains  they  were  honored 
it  will  be  impossible  for  us  to  allot  the  proportions  due  ;  and  your 
replv,  you  will  certainly  concede,  is  not  satisfactory.  I  want  the 
coupons,  and  the  question  is.  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ? 
I  regret  to  have  to  be  so  emphatic  about  the  matter,  but  the  ne- 
cessities of  the  case  fully  warrant  it. 

Yours  truly, 

Wallace  McKei,vey. 

85 

Dear  Sir  -. — Reiurning  papers  in  the  case  of  Martin  &  Jeffrey 
claim  : 

This  way-bill  was  reported  by  you  on  the  i8th.  It  should  have 
been  sent  to  this  office  on  the  19th.  The  Superintendent  did  not 
make  his  request  until  the  20th,  and  you  sent  it  to  him  attached 
to  the  damaged  report  on  the  21st. 

It  is  absolutely  imperative  that  the  original  bills,  when  re- 
quired, should  be  sent  to  this  office,  and  if  you  had  followed  your 
instructions  in  this  case  the  Superintendent's  office  would  have 
been  properly  provided  for  and  this  office  saved  the  annoyance 
of  hunting  over  the  country  to  get  this  original  bill. 

Yours  truly,  » 

Setii  Metcalf. 


88                               BUSINESS  LETTERS. 
86 

Dear  Sir  : — Referring  further  to  the  case  of  Warren  V. 
Webster  : 

Since  forwarding  mj'  last  letter  to  you  Mr.  Webster  has  been 
in  to  see  me,  and  seems  to  feel  that  his  suspension  is  a  reflection 
on  his  honesty.  I  endeavored  to  impress  him  with  the  fact  that 
there  was  not  the  slightest  suspicion  as  to  his  honesty  in  the 
matter,  but  that  the  suspension  arose  from  lack  of  confidence  in 
his  ability  to  perform  such  service  as  might  be  required  of  him. 

I  am  under  the  impression  that  Mr.  Webster  has  had  an 
excellent  lesson  taught  him,  and  believe  he  would  makea  valuable 
man  for  you  if  reinstated  and  permitted  to  resume  his  position. 
His  failure  in  the  present  instance  was  not  so  much  because  oi 
ignorance  as  for  his  almost  unaccountable  forgetfulness,  and  he 
is  desirous  of  being  taken  back  because  of  the  seeming  re- 
flection upon  his  honesty  rather  than  on  account  of  any  im- 
mediate pecuniary  necessity. 

Yours  truly, 

87 

Mv  Dear  Sir: — I  have  your  favor  of  June  ^th,  for  which  I 
thank  you.  I  understand  the  situation  thoroughly,  and  will 
make  such  arrangements  that  the  time  of  payment  of  bills  shall 
rest  very  largely  with  yourself  until  such  time  as  your  contracts 
are  finished  and  business  settles  down  in  its  regular  working 
groove 

I  hope  you  understand  me  fully  that  we  insist  upon  the  pay- 
ments being  made  on  certain  fixed  dates,  not  as  any  reflection  in 
the  slightest  on  your  company,  but  as  simply  enforcing  discipline 
on  our  road.  If  I  give  way  in  one  or  two  instances  the  agents 
will  immediately  seize  upon  it  as  a  precedent  for  leniency  in 
directions  in  which  they  may  be  personally  or  socially  inclined  ; 
and  for  this  reason  I  have  to  be  more  than  ordinarily  particular 
to  see  that  the  persons  who  are  accorded  the  privilege  of  making 
settlements  semi-monthly  comply  strictly  with  our  terms. 

If  at  any  time  any  of  our  agents  are  disposed  to  be  supercilious 
I  should  esteem  it  a  great  favor  if  you  will  advise  me  of  the  fact. 
Very  respectfully  yours, 


tr. 

St.. 

S4-S' 
ized,  ,, 
mills 
ye' 


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